The Maple Leafs just may be ready to be a legitimate Stanley Cup contender this season. But this is the wrong spot for them.

It's Toronto's fourth road game in seven days. The Maple Leafs also are catching the Capitals off an embarrassing 6-0 road loss to the Devils on Thursday.

Before that loss, the defending Stanley Cup champions had just beaten Las Vegas, 5-2, at home on Wednesday in an emotional matchup of last season's Cup finalists. The Capitals were averaging six goals a game during their first three games until their flat spot loss to the Devils.

Toronto is 1-5 in its last six games versus Washington. Maybe the Maple Leafs are ready to overtake the Capitals when they play in Toronto, but not on the road carrying a fatigue rating and drawing what is sure to be a fired-up Capitals group.